Resting Mallard

[Iain Barker]

I wanted to capture something different to the usual Mallard images and decided to try some close up shots.

Nikon D7000 + 300mm F4 af. 1/500 sec F4 ISO800.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Iain, lovely iridescence on the Mallards head, and focus spot on, on the eye. I wish there was more DOF on the head to really show up the details there.

[MiroslavMaric]

Like the color tone, bird pose and composition. For me DOF is ok. Regarding resting pose would like to see more dreaming eye or the name of above photo could be 'no sleep'. TFS.

Cheers,
Miro

[Gerald Kelberg]

Nice intimate close-up; colour looks great although it has gone to blue where I would have expected green - probably the iridescence...

f/4 is a bit short for DOF on a shot like this, I would be tempted to go for f/8 or more if I could - trying to get more of the head sharp.

Thanks for sharing, Gerald

[keith mitchell]

Iain the colour on the heads of these birds seems to change all the time dependent on the light, like this relaxed posed, colours look just fine to me.

Keith.

[Alan Murphy]

For these type of close up to work well, more DOF is needed, plus the head being parallel to the sensor would improve it too. I'd also warm it up a bit.

[Iain Barker]

Thanks for the comments. The shot was hand held and that was the main reason for f4 so I could keep the shutter speed reasonably high. The shot is one I could easily try again so next time I will use my tripod so I can use better settings. I too think the blue colour of the head is caused by the light.